WO1986005762A1

WO1986005762A1 - Foldable container

Info

Publication number: WO1986005762A1
Application number: PCT/US1985/000558
Authority: WO
Inventors: Larry Zornes; John L. Farnham, Iii; William J. Patterson; Gary J. Vulgamore; Frank L. Zimmer; John T. Depper, Jr.
Original assignee: The Mead Corporation
Priority date: 1985-04-01
Filing date: 1985-04-01
Publication date: 1986-10-09
Also published as: EP0216763B1; EP0216763A1; EP0216763A4; DE3580278D1

Abstract

A container with a bottom panel (15), and opposed end and side panels (19 and 16) foldably connected to the bottom panel, erected to an upright position and forming corners therebetween. Opposite ends of each end panel have corner connecting members (25) foldably joined thereto where the corner connecting members form columns therein so that the columns are located adjacent the side panels of the container at a distance from the opposite end panel corresponding to the width of the container so that the cross stacking strength of the container is enhanced.

Description

FOLDABLE CONTAINER TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to foldable containers and more particularly to a foldable container having a reinforced internal construction. II. BACKGROUND ART

Fresh meat is typically packaged in containers to protect the meat during transportation thereof and.while in storage. These containers may be individually stacked on top of each other during shipment and/or in pallet loads during storage. Thus, the stacking strength of these containers is critical to prevent collapse while the containers are being transported or stored especially under refrigerating conditions.

Industry practice has dictated that the^' con¬ tainer have a_^ rectangular shape to contain the meat and a solid bottom to reduce the likelihood of con¬ taminates entering the interior of the container through any bottom seals. As a result s.ingle piece regular slotted corrugated containers where the flutes are vertical in all end and side walls are typically not used in this application. In order to have single piece corrugated containers with a solid bottom, the flutes in one pair of walls run horizontal and vertical in the other pair of walls. Typically, the flutes are horizontal or lengthwise of the side walls. In order to have solid bottom corrugated containers with the flutes running vertical in all walls, multi-piece constructions have been used. This construction is typically in the form of a three piece modified Bliss style container.

Examples of single piece corrugated containers with solid bottoms are illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 4,056,223 issued November 1, 1977 to M. M. Williams and U. S. Patent No. 4,319,710 issued March 16, 1082 to E. L. Osborne. In both of these patents, reinforcing members are provided on opposite ends of the end panels which are positioned inside the side panels and secured thereto. These reinforcing members are folded back over themselves to form a double wall structure immediately inside the side panels. An example of a multiple piece container of the type used in the meat industry with a solid bottom is illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 3,097,781 issued July 16, 1963 to J. J. Masi. While the container illustrated in this patent is made of solid fibreboard, it is common to manufacture such containers out of corrugated fibreboard. This patent shows tri¬ angular posts fabricated adjacent the corners of the container. Other prior art containers of this configuration have suggested the for¬ mation of triangular posts at different locations along the end and/or side panels to increase the overall compressive strength of the container and separate the product. Different multiple piece containers cons¬ tructions which utilize various post locations are illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 3,159,326 issued December 1, 1964 to D. A. Stonebanks; U. S. Patent No. 4,081,124 issued March 28, 1978 to D. Y. Hall; and U. S. Patent No. 4,341,338 issued July 27, 1982 to E. S. Arnold.

Criteria which determines the ability of the container to meet the needs of the industry is the cross stacking strenth thereof since such containers are typically" cross stacked for stability and the cross stacking strength is always less than the single aligned stack strength of the container.

Multiple piece containers are usually more expensive to use than single piece containers and are typically used only when single piece containers cannot meet the minimum cross stack¬ ing strength requirements. Cross stacking strength can be expressed as a percentage of single containers compressive strength (corres¬ ponds to single .aligned stack strength) . While posts have been incorporated in multiple piece containers, such as the three piece Bliss style container, such posts and their location have not been able to significantly raise the per¬ centage of the cross stacking strength relative to the single strength of the container. Thus, these prior art container constructions would not suggest the use of posts in single piece containers to raise the percentage of the cross stacking strength relative to the single strength thereof. As a result, the prior art containers have not met the needs of the industry. III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other problems and disadvantages associated with the prior art containers are overcome by the invention disclosed herein by the provision of reinforcing posts located along the side walls of a rectilinear container at locations with respect to the end walls of the container corresponding to the width of the container so that the stacking strength, espec¬ ially the cross stacking strength, of the con- container is maximized while the amount of"the material required therefor is minimized. To further minimize the cost, the reinforcing columns may be formed as an integral part of a single blank container so that no waste is.encountered in fabricating blanks for the container. Further, use of a single blank container greatly simplifies container erection so as to minimize the cost thereof.

The container incorporating the invention is typically formed from a single blank of sheet material and has a bottom panel with opposed end and side panels foldably connected to the bottom panel with the end and side panels erected to an upright position and forming corners therebetween. Opposite ends of each end panel have corner connecting members foldably joined thereto where the corner connecting members form columns therein so that the columns are located adjacent the side panels of the container at'a distance from the opposite end panel corresponding to the width of the container so that the cross stacking strength of the container is enhanced. The corner connect¬ ing members include a base section which is joined to the edge of the end panel and extends along the inside of the side panel to be secured thereto so that the end panel and side panels are inter¬ connected. The projecting end of the base section has a column forming section foldably joined thereto which overlies the base section and projects interiorly of the side panel. The column formed in the column section extends between the bottom panel and the top flap when they are closed to transmit compressive loads between the top and bottom of the container. The corner connecting member includes a return • section foldably connected to the column forming section and which overlies the base section on that side opposite the side panel and is secured thereto to maintain the column configuration. An end overlap section is provided on the pro- jecting end of each corner connecting member which overlies a portion of the end panel and may be secured thereto to reinforce the corner. The end overlap section may be joined directly to the return section or may be connected to the return section through a corner column section which extends across the corner between the base section and the end panel to form a corner column as well.

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodi¬ ment of the invention partly broken away to show the internal construction thereof; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a blank used to make the container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps in erecting the container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrati g a second embodiment of the invention with portions thereof broken away to show the internal construc¬ tion thereof;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a blank used to fabri¬ cate the container of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the erection steps to erect the container of Fig. 4.

V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The container of the invention is designed pri¬ marily for packaging of primal and subprimal cuts of meat for shipment from the meat packager to the retailer. Such cuts are typically film wrapped so that the container is not exposed to the moisture in the meat itself. Where the container is used with unwrapped meat cuts, it is appropriately coated with a water barrier to reduce the deterioration of the container from the moisture in the meat. It will also be appreciated that modified constructions of the container may be used for the shipment of ice pack meats such as poultry.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the container which has been designated 10 and which is erected from a single blank 11 of sheet material. The typi¬ cal sheet material is double-faced corrugated fibre¬ board, however, it is to be understood that solid fibreboard sheets may be used. The blank 11 may ^* be formed by conventional blank forming equipment which automatically slots, slits and scores the blank 11.

The blank 11 includes a rectilinear bottom panel 15 with opposed ends and opposed sides. A pair of side panels 16 are foldably joined to the bottom panel 15 along the opposite sides thereof at side fold lines 18 while end panels 19 are foldably joined at opposite ends of the bottom panel 15 along end fold lines 20. The side panels 16 have a length corresponding to the length of the bottom panel 15 while the end panels 19 have a length corresponding to the width of the bottom panel 15. The side and end panels 16 and 19 have a common height for apparent reasons. A top flap 21 is foldably joined to each of the side panels 16 at the projecting edge thereof along a top fold line 22. The top flaps 21 have transverse width greater than half the transverse width of the bottom panel 15 so that the top flaps 21 will overlap each other when the container is erected and the top flaps closed as will become more apparent. Where the blank 11 is formed, from double-faced corrugated fibreboard, the flutes F are typically arranged so that they^' run longitudinally of the bottom panel 15. Thus, when the side panels 16 and end panels 19 are erected by folding them about the respective fold lines 18 and 20, the flutes in the end panels will run along the height of the panels perpendicular of the bottom panel while the flutes in the side panels will run lengthwise of the side panels parallel to the bottom panel.

A corner connecting member 25 is integral with each side edge of each end panel 19 along, fold line 26 oriented normal to fold line 20. The corner connecting member 25 is separated from the side panel 16 and top flap 21 by a cut 28. The cut 28 also forms a sealing tab 29 on the end of top flap 21 along the perforated fold line 30. This, of course, forms a cutout in the corner connecting member 25. The height of the corner connecting member 25 corresponds to the height of end panel 19 and its length corres¬ ponds to the combined height of side panel 16 and the transverse width of top flap 21 so that the projecting end edge 31 of connecting member 25 is aligned with the projecting side edge 34 of the top flap 21. This serves to maximize raw material utilization. The corner connecting member 25 includes a 762

base section 35, a column section 36, a return section 38 and an end overlap section 39. The base section 35 is foldably connected to the end panel 19 and projects outwardly therefrom for the distance d, to fold line 30 parallel to fold line 26. The column section 36 is foldably con¬ nected to the base section 35 along fold line 40. The column section 36 has a first portion 41 connected to section 35 along fold line 40 and a second portion 42 foldably joined to the first portion 41 along fold line 44 parallel to fold line 40. Portions 41 and 42 have transverse widths WP, and WP₂ and a common height H_p corres¬ ponding to the inside height of the container. The return section 38 is foldably connected to the edge of portion 42 of column section 36 along reverse fold line 45 parallel to fold line 44. It will be seen that the fold line 45 is aligned with one edge of cutout 31 although its position relative to cutout 31 may vary as the container dimensions vary. The end overlap section 39 is joined to the end of the return section 38 along reverse fold line 46 also parallel to fold line 45. Fold line 46 is located at the other end of the cutout 31 although its location may vary with different container dimensions.

The erection of the blank 11 into the container

10 is illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows the blank

11 at the various stages of the erection process immediately after each erection step. For simplicity, the erection stages of the blank 11 have been labelled A-F. Fig. 3 also shows two additional dia¬ grams to illustrate the top flaps being closed, how¬ ever, these diagrams are for illustration only since the erected container 10 is typically not 762 closed and sealed until after it is loaded.

Stage A shows the interior side of blank 11 after the adhesive has been applied to maintain the container 10 erected. For clarity, the ad- hesive AD has been shown only in Fig. 2 and not in Fig. 3. The adhesive AD is applied to that portion of the base section 35 of each corner connecting member 25 which the return section 38 of the member 25 will overlie. Adhesive AD is applied to those portions of end panels 19 which the end overlap sections 39 will overlie. Ad¬ hesive AD is also applied to those portions of the side panels 16 which the base sections 35 of the corner connecting members 25 will overlie. Stage B shows the blank 11 after the corner connecting members 25 have been folded inwardly about the fold lines 40 so that the column, return and end overlapping sections are normal to the plane of blank 11 while the base section thereof remains coplanar therewith. Stage C shows the blank 11 after the column sections 36 of the corner connecting members 25 have been folded inwardly along the fold lines 40 and the second portion 42 folded inwardly with respect to the first portions 41 about fold line 44 so that the portions 41 and 42 overlie the base section 35 and angle away from section 35 to form an apex 48 along fold line 44. The return section 38 is folded outwardly with respect to the second portion 42 of post section 36 along the fold line 45 and the end overlap section 39 is folded outwardly with respect to the return section 38 about fold line 46 until the end overlap section 39 is normal to return section 38. The return section 38 is located so that the edge formed between return section 38 and end over¬ lap section 39 along fold line 46 is in registra¬ tion with fold line 26 between the end panel 19 and the base section 35 of the corner connecting member 25. The return section 38 is then pressed against the adhesive AD on the base section 35 to. adhesively attach sections 35 and 38 together and maintain the column section 36 in an erected condition. At the same time, the end overlap sections 39 are held up off of the adhesive AD on the end panels 19 as illustrated at Stage C. The glued corner connecting members 25 are then folded inwardly⁰about fold lines 26 so that the base sections 35 of me - bers 25 are normal to the end panels 19. The end overlap sections 39 are then pressed down onto the adhesive AD on the end panels 19 to secure them to the end panels 19. The blank 11 is shown in this condition at Stage D. It will likewise be under- stood that the adhesive on the end panels 19 can be omitted. This permits the end overlap sections 39 to lie against the end panels 19 during the folding operation in Stages C and D.

With the corner connecting members 25 thus attached, the end panels 19 with the corner connect¬ ing members 25 attached thereto are folded up about the fold lines 20 until the end panels 19 are orien¬ ted generally normal to the bottom panel 15. This places the corner connecting members 25 so that the base sections 35 thereof lie along the fold lines

18 where the side panels 16 are joined to the bottom panel 15. This is illustrated in Stage E.

Thereafter, the side panels 16 are folded up about the fold lines 18 and then pressed up about the fold lines 18 and then pressed against the base sections 35 of the members 25 to cause the adhesive AD on the side panels 16 to secure the base sections 35 of the members 25 to the side panels 16. This is shown in Stage F and completes the erection of the container 10. Subsequently, the container 10 is loaded while the flaps 21 are still open and then the flaps 21 folded over and the sealing tabs 29 secured to the end panels 19. Also, the over¬ lapped top flaps 21 are typically adhesively join¬ ed in their overlapped portions.

The dimensions of the bottom side and end panels 15, 16 and 19 are selected so that the erected container 10 as seen in Fig. 1 has a width less than its length L . Typically, the width W_r is some fraction of the length L_p so that the containers will cross stack into a typical pallet load with the overall dimensions of the layers matching. The container 10 illustrated has a width W_c about two-thirds the length Lp so that three containers turned endwise line up with two containers turned lengthwise to permit five con- tainer layers with a reversing pattern whereby the layers interlock. Thus, when two containers 10 are cross stacked with a side panel 16 on one container lined up with an end panel 19 on the other container and with an end panel 19 on the one container lined up with a side panel 16 on the other container, the remaining side panel 16 on each container will cross over the other container at a cross over distance d CO from the aligned end panel 19 of each corresponding to width W_c of the container 10.

Each erected column section 36 is located in the vicinity of the cross over points where the side walls 16 of each cross stacked container cross over the side walls of the other container. Preferably, of course, the apex 48 of the column sections 36 are located the distance d CO from the opposite end panel 19. Good results have been obtained where the apex 48 is located within about an inch of the distance d„ CO. Where this is the case, the container cross stacked thereon will typically overlie some portion of the column section 36.

Prior experience has indicated that the cross stacking strength of a container is about 55% or less of its single column strength. The container 10 is able to maintain a cross stacking strength of about 70% or more of its single column strength under high humidity conditions typically found in. refrigerated food storage facilities. As a result, the least expensive raw material in the least amounts can be used to obtain satisfactory results. Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of the in¬ vention which has been designated 110 and which is erected from a single blank 111 of sheet material as best seen in Fig. 5. The erection steps of the blank 111 into the container 110 are shown in Fig. 6. The container 110 corresponds generally to the container 10 except that the corner connec¬ ting members form columns in the corners as well as intermediate the ends of the side walls. The blank 111 is formed generally in the same manner as the blank 11.

Those portions of the blank 111 correspond¬ ing generally to the blank 11 have similar refer¬ ence numbers applied thereto displaced by 100. As seen in Fig. 5, the blank 111 has a rectilinear bottom panel 115 with opposed side panels 116 joined to the bottom panel along side fold lines 118 and with a pair of end panels 119 joined to the opposite ends of bottom panel along the end fold lines 120. Top flaps 121 are foldably joined to the side panels 116 at the projecting

edge thereof along top fold lines 122 with the width of the top flaps 121 being such that they overlap when the flaps 121 are closed. The flutes F are typi¬ cally arranged so that they run longitudinally of the bottom panel 115 similar to those of the blank 11.

A corner connecting member 125 is integral with each side edge of each end panel 119 along fold lines 126 oriented normal to the fold line 120 and is separated from the side panel 116 and flap 121 by cut 128. Cut 128 forms a sealing tab 129 joined to the end of the top flap 121 along the perforated fold line 130 to form a cutout in the corner connec¬ ting member 135. The height and the length of the corner connecting member 125 corresponds to that of the member 25 in the blank 11.

The corner connecting member 125 includes a base section 135, an intermediate column sections

136, a return section 138, a corner column section

137 and an end overlap section 139. The base

» section 135 corresponds to the base section 35 on the blank 11 and projects outwardly from the fold line 126 the distance d, to fold line 140 parallel to fold line 126. The column section 136 corres¬ ponds to the column section 36 of the blank 11 and is foldably connected to the base section 135 at fold line 140. The column section 136 has portions 141 and 142 joined along fold line 144 with both portions 141 and 142 having a transverse width and height corresponding to the portions 41 and 42 of the blank 11. The return section 138 is foldably connected to the edge of portion 136 along fold line 145 and extends to fold line 147 located a distance d₂ from the fold line 145. The corner column section 137 is foldably joined to the return section 138 along fold line 147 with the

opposite edge of the section 137 foldably joined to the end overlap section 139 along the fold line 146 parallel to the fold lines 145 and 147.

The erection of the blank 111 into the con- tainer 110 is illustrated in Fig. 6 and corresponds generally to the erection process with the blank 11. The erection stages have been labelled A-F for the blank 111 in Fig. 6 with the additional diagrams showing the top flaps being closed as with the blank 11.

Stage A shows the interior side of blank 111 after adhesive has been applied to maintain the container 110 erected (see Fig. 5). The adhesive AD is applied to that portion of the base section 135 of each corner connecting member 125 which the return section 138 of the member 135 will overlie and also to those portions of the end panels 119 which the end overlap sections 139 will overlie. Unlike the blank 11, it will be noted that those portions of the end panels 119 and the base section 135 of the connecting member 125 adjacent the corner fold line 126 have no adhesive applied thereto on the panel 111. This is the portion of the blank 111 which will underlie the erected corner column section 137 which is not bonded to the base section 135 of the end panel 119. Like the blank 11, adhesive AD is applied to those portions of the side panels 116 which the base sections 135 of the corner connecting members 125 will overlie. Stage B shows the blank 111 after the corner connecting members 125 have been folded inwardly about the fold lines 140 so that the rest of the member 125 projecting past the fold line 140 is normal to the plane of the blank 111. Stage C shows the blank 111 after the column sections 136

of the corner connecting members 125 have been fold¬ ed inwardly along the fold lines 140 with the portions 141 and 142 folded about the fold line 144 to form the column apex 148 along the fold line 144. The return section 148 is folded with respect to the column section 136 along the fold line 145 and pressed against the adhesive on the base section 135 to hold it in place. At the same time, the corner column section 137 and return section 138 are folded out- wardly with respect to the return section 138 about fold line 147 until sections 137 and 139 are normal to the return section 138. While the sections 137 and 139 are held off of the end panel 119, the corner connecting members 125 are folded inwardly about the fold lines 126 so that the base seetions 135 of the members 125 are generally normal to the end panels 119. The end overlap sections 139 are then folded with respect to the corner column section 137 along the fold lines 146 and the end overlap sections 139 pressed down onto the adhesive AD on the end panels 119 to secure them to the end panels 119. This orients the corner post sections 137 at an angle across the corner formed between the end panels 119 and base section 135. The blank 111 is shown in this condition at stage D.

With the corner connecting members 125 thus attached, the end panels 119 with the corner connec¬ ting members 125 attached thereto are folded up about the fold lines 120 until the end panels 119 are oriented generally normal to the bottom panel 115. This places the corner connecting members 125 so that the base sections 135 thereof lie along the fold lines 118 where the side panels are joined to the bottom panel 115. This is illustrated in stage E. Thereafter, the side panels 116 are folded up about the fold lines 118 and then pressed against the base sections 135 of the members 125 to cause the adhesive AD on the side panels 116 to secure the base sections 135 of the members 125 to the side panel 116. This is shown in stage F and completes the erection of the container 110.

Subsequently,, the container 110 is loaded

» while the flaps 121 are still open and then the flaps 121 folded over and the sealing tabs 129 secured to the end panels 119. Also, the over¬ lapped top flaps 121 are typically adhesively joined in their overlapped portions.

The container 110 is similarly dimensioned to the container 10 with a width W_r less than its length L_p as seen in Fig. 4. While the width Wp may vary, it is illustrated at about two-thirds the length Lp. Thus, when two containers are cross stacked with a side panel 116 on one con¬ tainer lined up with the end panel 119 on the other container and with an end panel 119 on the one container lined up with the side panel 116 on the other container, the remaining side panel 116 on each container will cross over the other container at a cross over distance d C„O from the aligned end panel 19 of each corresponding to the width W_r of the container 110. Like the container 10, the apex 148 of the column section 136 is located in the vicinity of the cross over point of the side walls. Thus, the apex 148 is preferably located a distance d from the opposite end panel 119, however, it is contem¬ plated that a range of about one inch from dis¬ tance d will work satisfactorily. The strength results are similar to those for the container 10. It will be noted that the erected column

sections 36 and 136 have a triangular cross section with a prescribed projecting height h, which corresponds generally to the mis¬ alignment range likely to be encountered when the containers are stacked. Typically, the height h, is nominally one inch and may vary over a range of 1/2 - 2 inches. This serves to minimize the distance the column sections 136 project out into the interior of the con- tainer 10 or 110. It will also be appreciated that the cross sectional shape of the columns may be changed as required without departing from the scope of the invention.

The flutes F are oriented in the blank 11 or 111 so that maximum, column strength is achieved in the column sections 36 or 136. Those blanks 11 and 111 illustrated show the flutes F running along the height of the column sections 3"6 and 136.^* This orientation is typi- cally used on containers where the container width is less than about 1.5 times the container depth and the container depth is greater than about eight inches. For containers with a width greater than about 1/5 times its depth and a depth of about eight inches or less, the flutes F are oriented generally normal to the column height.

Claims

86/05762

19

1. A container formed from a single blank of foldable sheet material comprising: a bottom panel having opposed sides 5 and opposed ends; opposed end and side panels joined to said bottom panel respectively along the opposed ends and sides thereof, said end and side panels erected to an upright position and forming cόr- 10 ners therebetween, and said end panels having opposed ends along said corners; and a first pair of column forming members joined to one of said end panels at the opposite ends thereof, each of said column forming mem- 15 bers including a first section joined to the end of said end panel and projecting along the inside of said side panel at the corner toward the opposite of said end panels, said first section * ^* secu'red to said side panel and a second section 20 joined to the projecting end of said first section and formed into a tubular column pro¬ jecting interiorly .of said side panel.

2. The container of Claim 1 of a prescribed width and a prescribed length greater than the

25 width wherein said first section of each of said column forming members is sized to locate said tubular column at a prescribed distance from said opposing end panel corresponding to the width of the container to increase the cross stacking

30 strength of the container.

3. The container of Claim 2 further in¬ cluding a second pair of said column forming members joined to the opposing end panel at the opposite ends thereof.

35 4. The container of Claim 1 wherein each of said column forming members further includes a third section joined to said second section, overlying said first section to the interior surface thereof and secured thereto. 5. The container of Claim 4 wherein each of said column forming members further includes a fourth section joined to said third section, overlying a portion of said end panel adjacent said corner and secured thereto. 6. The container of Claim 4 wherein each of said column forming members further includes a fourth section extending angularly between said first section and said end panel inwardly of said corner, and a fifth section joined to said fourth section, overlying a portion of said end panel and secured thereto.

7. The container of Claim 1 wherein said sheet material is corrugated fibreboard haying flutes therein and wherein said column forming members are oriented so that said flutes therein extend along the length of said tubular column.

8. The container of Claim 7 wherein each of said tubular columns is oriented normal to said bottom panel. 9. The container of Claim 8 wherein each of said tubular columns has a triangular trans¬ verse cross sectional shape.

10. The container of Claim 9 further in¬ cluding at least one top closure flap joined to one of said side panels and wherein each of said tubular columns extends between said bottom panel and said top closure flap when the con¬ tainer is closed.

11. The container of Claim 8 wherein each of said tubular columns projects into said container from said side panel a distance of 1/2 - 2 inches.

12. A container formed from a sheet material comprising: 5 a rectilinear bottom panel having opposed side edges and opposed end edges; a pair of upright opposed side panels joined to the opposed side edges of said bottom panel and extending along the length of said^" 10 bottom panel; a pair of upright opposed end panels joined to the opposed end edges of said bottom panel, said end panels connected to said side panels to define^" an open top material receiving 15 cavity therein; at least one top closure flap joined to the upstanding edge of one of said side panels to selectively close said material _*. receiving cavity so that said container has a

20 prescribed width and a prescribed length in the erected condition; and a plurality of pairs of upstanding column structures connected to said side panels and projecting into said material receiving 25 cavity a prescribed projection distance, each of said column structures extending between said bottom panel and said top closure flap when closed to support said bottom panel and said top closure flap together with said side panels to 30 transfer compression loads between said top closure flap and said bottom panel, said pairs of upstanding column structures including a first paid of said column structures positioned against said side panels substantially opposite 35 each other and located a distance from one of said end panels about the same as the width of said container and a second pair of said column structures positioned against said side panels substantially opposite each other and located a distance from the other of said end panels about the same as the width of said con¬ tainer so that the cross stacking strength of said container is increased.

13. The container is Claim 12 wherein "^'"■ said sheet material is corrugated fibreboard having flutes therein and wherein the flutes in said column structures extend lengthwise thereof.

14. The container of Claim 12 wherein said prescribed projection distance is 1/2 - 2 inches. 15. The container of Claim 12 wherein each of said column structures is secured to said side panel positioned thereagainst.

16. The container of Claim 12 wherein each of said column structures comprises a column forming member including a base section defining an end thereon and secured to said side .panel, a column section joined to said end of said base section and formed into a tubular column projecting interiorly of said side panel; and a return section joined to said column section, overlying a portion of said base section and secured to said base section to maintain said column section formed into said tubular column.

17. A method of forming a container from a blank comprising a bottom panel, opposed end and side panels foldably connected to the bottom panel along fold lines, and corner connecting members foldably connected to opposite ends of each of the end panels, comprising the steps of: applying adhesive to interior surface areas of the corner connecting members and end panels; folding the corner connecting members upon themselves so that portions thereof will overlie the end panels and be adhered thereto; folding end portions of the corner connecting members and maintaining these portions out of contact with the adhesive applied to 'the end panels while folding the connecting members up to a position generally normal to the end panels, and thereby contacting the end portions of the corner connecting members with the end panel portions and securing the end portions to the end panels; folding the end panels and associated corner connecting members .approximately 90° so that the corner connecting portiαns extend along the fold lines between the bottom panel and side walls; applying adhesive to the inner surfaces of the side walls and folding the side walls, into face contacting relationship with the corner connecting members.

18. The method of Claim 17 further com¬ prising the step of forming a tubular column in the corner connecting member as the corner connecting member is being folded back over itself.

19. The method of Claim 18 wherein the step of forming the tubular column in the corner connecting member includes locating the column so that the column will be located substantially at the cross over point on the container when the containers are cross stacked.